A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, 1777 eBook

Just at this time, several French Gentlemen came in
to look at the pictures, and my surprise became infinitely
greater than ever; they talked with her about the
several pieces, without betraying the least degree
of surprise at the subjects, or the woman who shewed
them; nor did they seem to think it was a matter of
any to me; and I verily believe the woman was so totally
a stranger to sentiment or decency, that she considered
herself employed in the ordinary way of shopkeepers,
that of shewing and selling her goods: as her
shop was almost opposite to the General Post-office,
where I went every day for my letters, I frequently
saw women of fashion at this shop; whether they visited
the magazine, or not, I cannot say, but I think there
is no doubt but they might borrow the mass-book
I mentioned above.

I shall leave you to make your own comments upon this
subject; and then I am sure you will tremble for the
fatal consequences which your son, or any young man,
may, nay must be led into, in a country where Vice
is painted with all her bewitching colours, in the
fore-ground of the picture; and where Virtue, if there
be any, is thrown so far behind in the back shade,
that it is ten to one but it escapes the notice of
a youthful examiner.

I cannot help adding another instance of the profligacy
of this town. Lord P——­ being
invited by a French Gentleman to spend a day at his
Chateau, in this country, took occasion to tell
his Lordship, that in order to render the day as agreeable
as possible to his company, he had provided some young
people of both sexes to attend, and desired
to know his Lordship’s gout. The
young Nobleman concealed his surprise, and told his
generous host, that he was not fashionable enough
to walk out of the paths of nature. The same
question was then put to the other company, in the
order of their rank; and the last, an humble Frenchman,
replied, it was to him egal l’un, et l’autre,
just as it proved most convenient. This is not
a traveller’s story; it is a fact; and I dare
say the Nobleman, who was of the party, will give it
the sanction of his name, though I cannot with any
degree of propriety.

LETTER IV.

JONQUIRE.

I have now crossed the Pyrenees, and write
this from the first village in Spain. These mountains
are of such an enormous height, as well as extent,
that they seem as if they were formed even by nature
to divide nations. Nor is there any other pass
by land into this kingdom but over them; for they
extend upwards of thirty leagues from the Mediterranean
Sea, near Perpignan in Rousillon to the
city of Pompelina in Navarre; I should
have said, extend into the Mediterranean
Sea, for there the extremity projects its lofty head,
like a noble fortress of nature, into the ocean, far
beyond the low lands on either side. Indeed the